Troubleshooting

`claude: command not found` after installing

npm finished installing, but your current terminal hasn't reloaded PATH. Open a new terminal and try again.

If it still fails, check that npm's global bin directory is on your PATH:

Terminal

npm config get prefix
# that directory + /bin must be on $PATH

`EACCES: permission denied` during npm install

See the detailed fix on the Codex troubleshooting page — it's identical (change the npm prefix or use nvm).

Wrong or expired key (401 / unauthorized)

Open ~/.claude/settings.json and check the ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN value is your key
To switch keys, re-run the install command with the new key — old settings are backed up automatically

Claude Code isn't using the model I expect

Check in settings.json:

"model": "default" — Claude Code picks the model from the ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_*_MODEL variables
During a session, type /model to view and switch the active model

Long tasks get cut off

The default configuration sets API_TIMEOUT_MS = 3000000 (50 minutes). If you've hand-edited your settings before, re-run the install command to restore the standard configuration.

Restoring old settings

Terminal

ls ~/.claude/*.bak.*
# restore by copying back, e.g.
cp ~/.claude/settings.json.bak.20260811120000 ~/.claude/settings.json

Still stuck?

Contact support with a screenshot of the error — see the channels on Getting started.

claude: command not found after installing

EACCES: permission denied during npm install